A 30-year-old unnamed mail carrier living a quiet, solitary life in modern-day Japan. Facing a terminal illness with a prognosis of mere days to live, he spends his time with his pet cat while managing feelings of isolation and regret. He receives an otherworldly offer to extend his life by erasing items from existence, forcing him to evaluate the worth of his past and present connections.

A supernatural being who appears as a doppelganger of the protagonist but possesses a completely opposite personality. He wears vibrant, summery clothing and maintains a cheerful, casual demeanor while offering a magical but costly deal to extend human life. He speaks informally about theological matters and views human struggles from a detached, amused perspective.

A rescue cat adopted by the protagonist's mother and later taken in by the protagonist. He serves as a critical link to the past and acts as a grounding physical presence in an increasingly surreal week. He strongly resembles the family's first cat.

An independent woman who works at and lives above a local movie theater. She dated the protagonist for three years during college. She shares a profound love of film with her former partner and maintains an honest, clear-eyed perspective on their past relationship and its failings.

A compassionate and self-sacrificing woman who died of a tumor four years prior to the events of the story. Her personal philosophy heavily dictates the protagonist's understanding of the world. She held a firm belief that gaining something requires losing something else, a mindset she applied to her everyday choices.

A quiet, emotionally reserved watchmaker and repairman. He struggles to communicate his feelings verbally, preferring to show care through physical actions like fixing broken items or giving thoughtful gifts collected from his travels.

A shy and solitary film expert who has maintained a long-standing friendship with the protagonist since junior high school. He is deeply knowledgeable about all genres of cinema and provides a safe space for emotional vulnerability when his friend faces a crisis.

A young Japanese traveler known for drinking heavily and regaling others with wild stories of his adventures abroad. His sudden death in a bus accident serves as a traumatic catalyst for the protagonist and his partner.

The family's first pet cat, named after the label on the side of the box he was found in. He lived a full life with the family before passing away from a tumor.